Detectives have detained 15 members of a gang who were allegedly planning to help students cheat in medical admission tests with the help of an electronic device resembling a SIM card.

The suspects were detained from Dhaka and its surrounding areas while they were trying to help some candidates during the MBBS admission test on Friday. Police also seized electronic equipment from their possession.

Sources said the suspects admitted to being involved in cheating before during primary interrogation.

Officials of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said their drive foiled the gang’s plan to cheat in Friday’s test.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Md Sajjadur Rahman said: “The MBBS admission test question paper was not leaked this time. Those who attempted to leak, have been identified.”

Each of the gang members reportedly made agreements with seven to nine admission seekers. The deals were sealed at Tk20-30 lakh, of which Tk10,000-15,000 was paid in advance by the candidates or their guardians. The aspirants also gave the gang their SSC certificates as a guarantee to pay the rest of the amount after the exam.

It is a digital way of cheating. The device, which appears to be a SIM card, has a wireless connection with a listening device that can be clung around the earlobe. Moreover, the device is also connected to a wireless network that is operated from outside the exam centre.

The gang members receive copies of the question paper immediately after it is distributed among the examinees. The examinees then receive the solution through the device.

DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (DB) Golam Mostafa Russel said the cartel planned to use the device for the admission tests of other institutions. “But all of them have been identified. We are conducting drives in different areas to arrest them.”

DB sources said 20-25 more gangs are involved in question leaks and cheating during admission tests across the country.

Moreover, some frauds use their Facebook accounts to disseminate question papers, or spread rumours about question paper leaks, before the exams and earn money from the examinees. The detectives have detected 500 such Facebook accounts.